The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to inform the court regarding steps taken by the ministry for repatriation of Dr Aafia Siddiqui by May 6. A single-member bench of Chief Justice M. Bilal Khan issued directions on petitions of Ismat Siddiqui, mother of Dr Aafia Siddiqui and Iftikhar Hussain Rajpoot through Barrister M. Javed Jafferi.
Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Aleem Abassi requested the court to grant him time in the case which the court had accepted and adjourned the hearing. Earlier, he apprised the court that the government had been making efforts to resolve the issue through all possible channels and would be able to provide information about progress in four weeks.
Barrister Jafferi argued that despite clear direction by the single bench of former chief justice, a month has passed without any result. He prayed to the bench to direct the government to immediately bring Dr Aafia back from the US custody. He also prayed the court to direct the respondents to approach the International Court of Justice. Barrister M. Javed Iqbal Jafferi alleged that a senior official of the ministry had telephoned Aafia's sister and used objectionable language.
He submitted an application requesting the CJ to issue a direction to the concerned authority to clarify the position. The request was turned down. On March 4, the court had directed the ministry to take steps for Dr Aafia's repatriation through diplomatic channels and if their efforts failed then take the matter to the International Court of Justice.
A fresh writ was moved by Ismat Siddiqui, Dr Afia's mother and Iftikhar Hussain Rajpoot through Barrister M. Javed Jafferi. Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Interior, Inspector General Police, Sindh, former president Pervez Musharraf, former prime minister Shaukat Aziz, former minister Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat and others have been made respondents.
Dr Aafia Siddiqui had been missing for last three years from Karachi with her children. On August 5, 2008 the FBI suddenly produced Dr Siddiqui in a New York court to charge her for having links with al Qaeda and shooting at US officers in Afghanistan.